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Cover of THE BELLES
3.46

Based on 368 Goodreads ratings

THE BELLES

by her housecleaner grandmother—Deena hopes to learn her peers’ ways while she keeps a secret that might ruin her chances for a Bellerton\u002Dapproved future. If this territory has been mined by other writers, it doesn’t matter much as debut novelist Dunham juggles gothic elements including a nasty poetry professor, a drunken misery of a housemother, and glimpses of ghosts in the campus trees. Queen Bee Ada May Delacourt\u003B closeted Winifred (Fred) Scott and her bestie, Sheba Wyatt\u003B Nell Lawton\u002DPeters\u003B and Prissy Nicholson from Texas at first hew so closely to the expectations of Mrs. Tibbert, the wife of the college’s president, that she declares them the Belles of their class. But small things start to go missing from the girls’ rooms and as they snipe at each other, they also discover how good it feels to be bad, brandishing their signature hair ribbons like battle standards and roaming the woods at night, damn the consequences. Deena begins to encounter the apparition of a 19th\u002Dcentury student, Mary Burden, and wonders why only she can see her\u003B even if readers guess, they’ll already be under the spell of this isolated school. As the Belles prepare for their 50th reunion in 2002, their 21st\u002Dcentury lives offer bitter commentary on the real lessons they learned."

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Pages:304
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9781668084

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

In a world where beauty is a commodity and the ability to transform appearance is a coveted magic, one Belle's journey uncovers the dark secrets behind the opulent court of Orléans. This lush, high-s...

Our Review

In a world where beauty is a commodity and the ability to transform appearance is a coveted magic, one Belle's journey uncovers the dark secrets behind the opulent court of Orléans. This lush, high-stakes fantasy plunges readers into a society obsessed with aesthetic perfection, where the very magic that creates beauty extracts a terrible physical and emotional toll. The narrative masterfully blends the glamour of a royal court with the creeping dread of a gothic thriller, creating an immersive atmosphere that is both dazzling and unsettling.

What sets this novel apart is its sharp, timely critique of beauty standards and the corrupting influence of power, wrapped in a propulsive plot full of courtly intrigue and shocking revelations. Teen readers, particularly those drawn to intricate world-building and morally complex heroines, will be captivated by the protagonist's fight against a system designed to control her. It’s a thought-provoking and unputdownable story that questions the true cost of perfection.

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